Bottom hole gas anchor



P. F. BARNHART BOTTOM HOLE GAS ANCHOR Oct. 14, 1947.

Sheets-Sheet 1 Illllllllll Filed p1-i1 5, 1945 INVENTOR. FAIL lllllllllllll Afrox/vir P. F. BARNHART BOTTOM HOLE GAS ANCHOR Oct. 14, 1947.

Filed Aprill 5. 1943 A/ A//a 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 89M Q/PA//Mwx INVENTOR.

fm OGM@- ptttttttaott. t4. 1947 7 i l 2,429,043

UNITED `Sl-ATES PATENT OFFICE BOTTOM HOLE GAS ANCHOR Paul F. Barnhart, Houston, Tex. Application Apt-i1 s, 1943, serial No'. 481,814

10 Claims. (Cl. 103-220) The invention relates to a bottom hole gas an-A the flow of liquid from the formation downwardly chor of the type utilized with a pumping mechathru the assembly while 'simultaneously permitnism whereby oil is elevated in the well up to ting the escape of gas upWardly. This natural the surface. tendency ismaterially aided by the construction In producing the wel-ls, the formation'usually 5 due to the progressive reduction in velocity of Y yields oil, gas and some solids in the form of sand flow and the provision of gas outlets at the point or ne particles of foreign'matter. In order to of each reduction in the velocity of flow. elevate the oil, it is desirable to separate as much Another object of the invention is to provide of the solids as possible and also s parate the lgas a combination housing, tubing 4and tail pipe asso that a reciprocating pump Wil'iract'upon the 10 sembly in combination with a baille structure to liquids and will not be gas locked, due t the facilitate the separation of gas, liquids, and solids presence of gas in the pumping chamber. in awell bottom assembly.

Thepresent invention operates upon the prin- Another object of the invention is to provide a ciple that if the velocity of'floyv is progressively gas anchor assembly which can be separated so reduced to a minimum while traveling vertically as to facilitate com/plete inspection, cleaning and downward, separation of the gas, liquids I:and replacement voi? the bafde structure which under solids will occur, due tothe distinct differences in some conditions may be subjected to wear, due

relative specific gravityof the gas, liquids andv to the flow of materials thereby. I

solids, and further due to the force of gravity and Another object of the invention is to provide due also to the fact that the flow, together and a specified length tail pipe in conjunction withA separately of gas,liquids and solids, is directedin a specified lengths of'uid and gas passages so as 'particular manner by the design and constructo provide desired periods of time for downward tion of the present device. vertical flowv of material thruthese fluid passages It is one of the objects of the invention to probefore the uid starts up the Well and in this vide a gas anchor having a housing of a maximanner -allow for maxim separation of gases, mum diameter size which can be safely-deposited liquids and solids.

in the Well so as to provide a maximum size ex- Still another object is t`i provide a gas anchor pansion chamber which willlpermit the maxifor wells where there Wi1l`be a maximum area mum reduction in thevelocity of flow of the gas, and a minimum velocity of flow at the location liquids and solids from the formation to the where the escaping liquid must effect a reverse pump. f flow.

Another object of the invention is to reduce the It is also an object lof the invention to provide velocity of ow progressively step by step to a t a gas anchor having a tail'pipe and a plurality minimum so as to encourage the separation of of materialpassages whereby a r'etarted velocity lche gases, liquids and solids. This separation 35 of flow for the same volume of material occurs is accomplished by providing a plurality of pasat a passage subsequent to the first passage and sages for the flow of the material in the assem- -prior to entry of the liquid into the tail pipe. bly whereby the ow thru any other passage or Other and further objects of the invention will passages after the rst passage obtains a further be readily apparent when the following descripreductionin the velocity of flow compared with 40 tion is considered in connection with the accomthe vel'ocity in the first passage. panying drawings, wherein:

Another y'object of the invention is to permit the Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view o'f the upper ready escape lof gas from the incoming material portion ofthe gas anchor.

at a plurality of stages in the passage of the ma- Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the lower terial from the formation to the pump, and the portion of the gas anchor :indiaan-Continuation. escaping of such gas is so directed as to cause a of Fig. 1;

minimumv of interference or counterow" and col Fig. 3 is an enlarged broken" sectional view of mingling of such gas with incoming fluids mov- `the combination, hOuSing, tubing, ,tail pipe and ing from formation to the'pump. badle structure.

Another object of the invention is t'o/ reverse 50 Figs. 4ad 5 are Section5 0n the line mld the direction of flow of the liquid in the last stage 5-5 respectively of 3.l of the procedure so as to facilitate the separa'- Fig. 6 is a side elevation of theentire assembly ff tion vof solids from' the liquid, just. prior to the in position, ready to be deposited in the well bore. liquid starting upwardly in the well. Fig. 7 i's a vertical section of amodied form of Another object of the invention is to encourage a baffle structure.

modication of the baille structure.

Fig. is a, horizontal section taken on the line III-III of Fig. 9.

Fig. 6 shows the entire ga's anchor assembly in elevation and shows it as being made up of a tubing2 which has a housing 3, afiixed by welding or otherwise at 4 thereon. It will be noted that the housing is considerably larger in diameter than the tubing 2, the relative sizes thereof 'being apparent from the Figs. 1 and 2.

It is intended that this housing shall be of the maximum diameter which can be safely inserted in the well bore in which the tool is to be used. This is desirable so as to obtain the maximum area or passage space inside of the tool, as will be later described.

Figs. 1 and 2 show the housing 3 as being made up of a longitudinal section 5 having a bull plug 6 releasably connected on the lower end thereof and having an upper section 1 which may be connected to the section 5 by a coupling 8 which coupling may be spot welded either above or below to the longitudinal section 5. This may be a flush joint threaded connection, however, because this connection is to be removed in order to obtain access to the parts disposed therein and such ilush joint thread connection should be so located at the coupling 8 as to expose these internal' parts or in other words, longitudinal section 5 should extend to a point at the top of the coupling 8. The area 65 in the lower part of the housing 5 and the bull plug 6 may be known as a mud anchor to receive the solid particles which are separated.

This housing 3 as seen in Fig. 6 has a series of inlet openings 9 provided therein at a desired distance down from its point of fastening to the tubing at 4. These inlet openings are seen best'in Fig. 1 and`may be any desired size or number or configuration but it is intended that they will have a total area at least as great as the concentric annular space I0 which is the entry passage into the tool.

It is intended that as the ow of material from the formation passes thru these openings 9 into the housing 3 that some of the gas will move upwardly in the area II' and escape thru the openings II into the casing of the well. The principal ilow of oil and solids and some gas will move downwardly, however, and will obtain its irst reduction in velocity in the passage I0. This reduction in flow will tend to permit a separation of gas from liquid or liquid and solids, due to the diiference in specific gravity thereof.

It is further intended that the flow of material going from the formation into the pump through this passage I0 occurs in vertically downward direction and while some of the gas may be separating from the oil and solids during this period it is believed that therewill be little if any escape of gas at certain `volumes of flow in this passage Ill because of the velocity of ow of lthe material downwardly.

The concentric passage Ill/which is shown in the drawings is formed as the space between the outside of the tubing 2 and the inside of the housing 3 and 5 and the flow downwardly thru this passage is encouraged by the reduction in pressure in the assembly caused by the reciprocation of the pump which will be carried in the tubing above the tool. This pump may be of 4 any standard construction and, therefore, not illustrated herewith.

As the flow of material moves downwardly in the passage IIJ, it approaches the point I4, as seen in the top of Fig. 2 and then moves through a -bailie assembly I5. This baille assembly is best seen in detail in Fig. 3 and includes a plate I6 having a series of ports therein. These ports break up the flow of material into small streams which are directed against the first deflector member I8 which is shown as having been ailixed to the lower end of the tubing 2 by means of the connecting weld or ring I9. The arrows indicate the path of the flow and it will be seen that the flow will impinge against the outer surface 20 of this reflector plate I8, so that it is thrown outwardly. The flow next impinges upon the intermediate deilector plate 22 which is shown in Fig. 3 as inclined inwardly so as to change the direction of the ilow of material to facilitate separation of the gas, liquids and solids.' The deilector members 22 and 24 are suitably supported from the member I8 `by the legs 25', as seen in Figs. 3 and 4.

It will be noted from Fig. 3 that the flow is now directed on a lower baiile plate 24 and that there is a space 23 between the plates 24 and I8 which leads upwardly to the concentric space 25 inside of the tubing so that an escape for gas is provided at this point in the baille. 'I'he remaining material impinging against the outer surface of the plate 24 will move downwardly into the space 26 which is in the form of a separation chamber inside' of the housing 5.

Any gas separating, due to the additional expansion in the chamber 26 and due to the reduced velocity of flow, may escape up thru the opening 21 on the'inside of the lower defiector member 24, and thus move upwardly into the space 25 between the inside of the tubing 2 and outside of tail pipe 30.

The provision of the baiile assembly tends to destroy the jetting eiect of the flow from the passage IIJ as it discharges into the area or passage 26. This gives a relatively free upfiow area at 23 and 21.

Figs. land 2 show a tail pipe 30 as being disposed in the tubing and of such a length that its lower end 3| is spaced in the separation chamber 2 6 below the bottom oi the tubing 2 and baille assembly I5. The lower end 3| is open and leads upwardly into the pump chamber 32 inside of the tubing 2 above the coupling 33. This tail pipe may be supported on a seat and seal 34 of the conventional type and may have at its upper end the standing valve 35 if desired therein.

This tail pipe 30 with the inside of the tubing 2 defines the gas escape passage 25 heretofore mentioned and Fig. 1 showsa plurality of outlets 36 for 'the gas from this gas passage 25 so that the gas may move outwardly from chamber 26 and openings 21 and 23 and passage 25 into the well bore or casing. It is understood that the gas moves into the casing and can be permitted to escape at the well head and is generally known as caslnghead gas.

aration of the gas as possible,

casacca Duc to the reciprocation ci the pump in the pump chamber 62,' it seems clear'that there will be a downward suction or pull on the material entering the chambers I6 and 26 and an upward suction or pull on the fluid thru the tail pipe 30 as indicated by the arrows Il lThis iiow of iluid from the formation to the pump obtains a complete reversal in direction of the ilow from that downwardly in the chambers l and 26 when it moves into the tail pipe 36 so that the ilow reverses its Adirection from 'va rticallyfdownward to vertically upward in passing'around the lower end 3l of the tail pipe. iThis reversal of the direction of ilowtends to, throw? out any solidl matter into the mud anchor 6 which may have been carried along with the liquid. -'ll'his solids accumulating anchor chamber'is equipped with a threaded bull plug connection it may be parted to clean out and inspect the chamber.

It seem obvious that with the construction of the complete assembly-just described there will:

be an initial gas, cil and solids separating chamber as the material 'moves into and down thru passage I0. It is definitely apparent that a great part of the gas which 'enters the openings 9 with the fluid and solids will not proceed in a vertically downward direction in passage I0 because of the specific gravity 'of the gas; but instead will move vertically upward yimmediately vafter entering openings 9 into the gas passage or area il and out through openings Il back yinto the well bore at a distance above theinlet' openings` 9. This .gas leavingthe assembly-.thru openings Ilv will continue vertically upward in the well bore and escape at the surface from the casing and is generally known as casinghead gas. s

There will thus be a deilnite velocity of flow in y the passage I0 and as the material reaches the barile structure I5, agitation of the material is order to eiect as much sepfrom. the liquids and solids greatly increased -in As the material continuesto move vertically downward thru passagel 26'. a different velocity example will be on bottom so that through this passage the area isvconsidered, and

of flow is obtained which is considerably reduced y as compared with the velocity of flow that obtained' while this same -material moved downward thru the above passage i6. This further marked reduction in velocity of iow obtained by the material as same enters and moves down thru passage 26 causes an additional quantity of the gas to separate from lthe liquid and solids and such gas will `discontinue its downward direction of flow after enteringpassage 26 and because of the specific gravity of the gas in conjunction with -further retarded downward velocityof iiow of the material,the gas will move 23 and into gas passage 26 and out of the gas outlet opening 36 at the-upper part of passage 25.

In all there are two maior and pronounced progressive passages in the reduction of the velocity of flow of the material which reduction in velocity of iiow occurs progressively ilrst in the passage l0 and then in the passage 26 as the material moves thru the assembly from the forma.- tion into the pump. There are also two progressive stages of separating the gas from the liquid and solids while moving downward thru each of the two above mentioned passages l0 and 26 respectively.

The baille assembly i6 is so designed and the inlet of the gas thru spaces 21 fand 23 into the gas passage 25 is of such design that the addi vertically upward thru passage 21 and passage tional gas separating from the liquids and solids through baille i6 and passage 26 will permit this gas to enter passage 26 while moving vertically upward with a minimum amount of interference and co-mingling of the liquids and solids moving vertically downward thru passage 26into the pump. This feature greatly aids in obtaining a complete separation o f the gas from the liquids and solids moving vertically downward thru passage 26. y

As an illustration, and not a limitation, an given where the flow is, say, 500 bbls. per day of materialirom the formation. With a ilow of this sort, and the housing 3, having an inside diameter of 4.026 inches and the outside diameterof the tubing 2 being 2.875

inches, there would be an annular space between the two which constitutes the passages I0 and Il'. This area would be an annulus having an area'of 0.0431 square foot. Presuming that the flow is 500 barrels per 24-hour day, the flow would be 0.0325 cubic foot per second. When the volume of flow, locity in the passage second.

This, of course, is a reduction in the volume and velocity of ilow because of the fact that some of the gashas escaped by moving upwardly in the gas passage il'.

The passage 26 will be an annular lspace created by the inside diameter of the housing 6 and the outside diameter of the tail pipe 30. This area maybe computed as 0.0731 square foot and if the volume of ilow were 0.0325 cubic foot per second it is apparent that the vel0 would be 0.755 foot per then the velocity would be 0.445 foot per second.

' plishing a drop in velocity. Computations, therefore, indicate that the distance in some cases in the example given from the ports 9 to vthe baille plate I6 in the passage l0 may be 10 feet and that the timev of iiow of any minute particle of material'down thru this area and length of passage consequently would be 13.25 seconds. The

length of the tail pipe 30 below the bailles should then be 5.9 feet as a minimum in order to obtain at least a same time of flow down thru this passage 26 of 13.25 seconds. In some instances and circumstances the parts will be so constructed and arranged that there will be no instance wherein the time of downward travel through the area and length of passage 26 will be les's than the time of downward travel through the area and length of passage I0. In this manner, there will be' an equal or greater time of ilow ,of the material down thru passage 26 as compared with passage l0 which will further materially aid in obtaining maximum separation of the gas, liquids and solids.

It seems obvious that eachparticular gas anchor may be proportioned andlarranged in its construction in accordance with the yestimated gas-oil ratio and other conditions expected to be 21 which will tend 'to further ,material into a separation chamber chor having a plurality of material passages whereby a retarded velocity oi' flow for the same volume of material occurs as the material moves from one passage to the next.

What is claimed is: l. A bottom hole gas anchor a Well tubing', a tail pipe sealed therein, said tail pipe extending below the tubing and providing for an oil iiow upwardly therethru, andan ani nular gas escape passage formed inside the\tubing by said tail pipe, a housing of the largest possible diameter which can be run into the well and carried by the tubing to enclose the lower ends o each the tail pipe and the tubing'so as to provide an annular entry passage enclosing the end of the tubing and a separation chamber enclosing the end ofthe tail pipe, a series of entry openings` in the housing for material from the formation so that as the iiow passes into the houslng from said openings the gas will tend to move upwardly in said housing while the liquid and solids will tend to move down thru said entry passagedue to gravity and due to the ow thru said tail pipe, another series of openings in said housing above said entry openings to permit the outlet of' gas rising from the entry openings, a series of openings in the tubing above the housing to encourage escape of gas moving into said gas escape passage as the ow emerges from the entry passageinto the separation chamber below the end of the tubing and above the end of the for wellsincluding tail pipe, said chamber extending substantially I below said tail pipe so as to provide a mud anchor to receive solids separating from the gas and liquid as the rate of flow diminishes in the chamber and as the direction of ilow is reversed as the gas enters the gas passage tubing and the liquid enters the tail pipe.

2. The combination of a well tubing and gas anchor including a tail pipe in the tubing and forming 'a gas escape passage in the tubing, a housing enclosing the tubing and tail pipe whereby a combination entry and gas passage is formed about the tubing, entry openings into said passage, a gas outlet into the gas portion of said -entry passage above said entry openings, gas outlets in said tubing above said housing, an open lower end on said tail pipe whereby gases, liquids and solids entering said housing are separated to flow the liquid up thru the tail pipe, the gas out of the housing and tubing outlets and to collect the solids in the bottom of the housing as the rate of flow is decreased and the direction of iiow reversed, and a baiile means at the end of the tubing in said housing to facilitate separa tion into said gas inlets.

3. In a gas anchor having a housing, tubing and tall pipe concentrically arranged to provide --gas outlet, entry, and gas escape passages for a decrease in the velocity of now to facilitate lseparation of the gas and liquid and solids, a baffle structure in the entry passage comprising a plate, a series of ports therein, a series of oppositely inclined deiiecting members against which the ow from the p orts will impinge, a

passage from between two of said members for" the escape of gas into said tubing, a passagebetween two of the members for the passage of in said hous- 4tubing extending below the baille structure in the entry passage comprising a plate, a series of ports therein, a series of oppositely inclined deflecting members against which the flow from the ports will impinge, a passage from between two of said members for the escape of gas into said' tubing, a passage between two of the members for the passage of material into a separation chamber in said housing to decrease the velocity of flow, the lower end of said tail pipe being open whereby a pump in said tubing will draw out the liquid.

5. In a gas anchor having a housing, tubing and tail pipe concentrically arranged to provide gas outlet, entry, and gas escape passages for a decrease in the velocity of ow to facilitate separation of the gas and liquid and solids, a baille structure in the entry passage comprising a plate, a series of ports therein, a series of oppositely inclined defiecting members against which the iiow from the ports will impinge, a passage from between two. of said members for the escape of gas into said tubing, a passage between two of the members for the passage of material into a separation chamber in said housing to decrease the velocity of ilow, the lower end of said tail pipe being open for the Iiow 0f liquid, and openings in said housing and said tubing for gas outlet passage and gas escape passage respectively to allow escape of the gas separating.

6. A gas anchor to reduce the velocity of iiow of material from the formationwhich comprises a housing of the maximum size insertable in the well, a tubing extending into the housing, entry openings in the housing so that the flow will be downwardly inside the housing around the tubing, outlets from the housing above said inlets for the escape of separating gases, a baille structure inthe housing at the end of the tubing to encourage gas to separate and ow upthe tubing, outlets from the tubing above the housing,

and a tail pipe in the tubing extending below the. tubing into the housing so that liquid moving downwardly into the housing may be pumped therefrom after the separation of the gas.

7. A gas anchor to 'reduce the velocity of flow of material from the formation which comprises a housing of the maximum size insertable ln the well, a tubing extending into 'the housing, entry openings'in the housing so that the flow will be downwardly inside the housing around the tubing, outlets from the housingabove said inlets for the escape of separating gases, a baffle structure in the housing at the end of the tubing to encourage gas to separate and flow up and out of the tubing without interfering with 'or co-mingling with liquids and solids, outlets from the tubing above the housing, and a'tail pipe in the tubing into the housing so that liquid moves downwardly into the housing after the separation of the gas, said housing forming a separating chamber which further reduces the velocity of iiow to facilitate the separation of gases, liquids and solids.

-8. A baille structure for gas anchors having a concentrically spaced housing, tubing and tail pipe assembly including a ported plate about the down inside the housing around the tail pipe and gas upwardly inside the tubing around the outside of the tail pipe.

9. A gas anchor including concentric housing,

tubing and tail pipe structures, a baille to facilitate separation of gases and liquids carried by the end of the tubing and disposed in the housing, means to afx the top of the housing to the tubing, and a connection in the housing just abovesaid bafe so that separation thereof permits access to said bafe.

10. A gas anchor including concentric housing, tubing and tail pipe structures, a baille to facilif tate separation of gases and liquids carried by the end of the tubing and disposed in the housing, means to affix the top of the housing to the tubing, and

va connection in the housing :lustl above said baffle so that separation thereof permits access to said baille, said baille including a. ported plate. l

PAUL F. BARNHART.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Neilsen May 17, 1927 McCoy Oct. 5, 1926 Chancellor et al July 13, 1926 Scott et al Oct. 19, 1926 Etheridge Aug. 16, 1898 Green May 4, 1920 Blanton June 16, 1925 Carlson Aug. 28, 1928 Marsh Jan. 1,1929 Chancellor Oct. 22, 1929 Jones'- Feb. 4, 1936 Anderson J an. 17, 1939 

